From Tim Couturier:
Howdy there K.K. I first was introduced to JP back in 1982 when “Screaming For Vengeance” first came out. My best friend at the time got the vinyl for his birthday from his brother and came over to my house and we dropped the needle on the disc and heard the opening strains to ”The Hellion.” I’ve been hooked ever since. I didn’t get to see you live for the first time until 1984 on the Defenders tour, at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo Michigan and I was f-ing blown away. Since then I’ve seen Priest every tour including the incredible Ripper years – in fact I was right up front in Basel, Switzerland in 2001 (the first live performance on the “Demolition” tour) and got to see you tear up the “Victim Of Changes” solo from about 5 feet away – what a great night it was.
My question is this: I went ahead and ordered one of your signature guitars from KxK (#6 actually, in Lightning White) and being a total amateur at 40 years old, what do you suggest should be the first thing I do to start learning to shred some Metal? I can bang out a few riffs here and there but can’t read music and just want to be able to jam a few songs. Thanks for all the joy you and Priest have given me over the years and I look forward to many more. I can see myself at some rest home when I’m 85 years old breaking my wrist trying to replicate the main riff from ”Painkiller..”
Hi Tim. Enjoy the guitar, don’t worry you won’t be alone at 85. Maybe we will have machine rocking chairs.
Regards K.K.
From Magnus:
Hi Mr. Downing,
Wonder why the song “Machine Man” isn’t in the concert part at the “London Live” DVD? The song appears only in the rehearsal. I mean there was a new tour/album (“Demolition”) with a new good song that you used to play at the tour. Was there any problem before the concert or something?
I saw you in Denmark and Sweden three times and I think the song was played there. Looking forward to hear from you and a happy new year.
Best regards from Magnus Bergman Demolator
Hi Magnus, I can not remember exactly why that was but our goal was to play as many songs as we could for the DVD. It is always our most difficult task to choose the set list so I hope we do a pretty good job.
Regards K.K.
From Julie, Richmond, Virginia:
Hi Ken,
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying your break from the road. I have 3 questions for you.
1.In May 2008 you did an interview with Ian Robinson of Nonelouder. At one point, while discussing “Nostradamus,” you said (approximate quote) “It was exciting for us to be able to actually go into other instruments…It was very rewarding as a musician to go into those areas and think ‘wow, this makes me sound like, dare I say, a real musician. I get some credibility.’ ” Even though you were laughing when you said it, do you really believe that somehow you weren’t a credible musician before hand or that you were perceived that way? What prompted this statement?
2.I’ve been reading Martin Popoff’s “Heavy Metal Painkillers.” Can you recommend this book? Is it accurate in facts and tone? Are there others you can recommend?
3. Who wrote the lyrics on “Jugulator” and “Demolition”? Are songs like “Brain Dead”, “Hell Is Home”, and “Close To You” based on real experiences? Are you willing to elaborate? 🙂
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these! I hope to see you later this year when/if you return to the States.
Sincerely, Julie
Hi Julie. The comments about being accepted as a real musician were directed mainly at people that only think that classical music and its instruments are bonafied and that rock and metal is not really music that’s worth anything.
To be honest Martin gave me a copy of his book but I have not read it yet. We will be putting out our authorised book at some point so it might be worth waiting for that.
These lyrics were from Glenn actually so I can’t really elaborate on their meaning to him. We are hoping to return to the States soon so see you there.
Regards K.K.
From Sygy:
ll the Best K.K. for you and the guys on the Priest Feast 2009! I’m looking forward to see you in Dortmund!
It would be great to see the whole “Nostradamus” musical show later on the year? Are you going to do that? Hope so!
Have you just some ideas and compositions in mind for the next Priest Album?
Here are nice pics with Sygy, K.K. and the girls
Hi Sygy. Yes we would like to do the “Nostradamus” show at some point and also another album although we have been so busy touring and even have more to do this year in the US and Japan at least but I will let you know as soon as possible what the future holds for us. Thanks for the insane photos and I hope you enjoyed the show.
Regards K.K.
From From Melinda Ray, Charlotte:
Hi K.K.,
Just mildly curious about something. I remember reading in an interview some years ago, something to the affect of your liking guns and that you actually owned several decommissioned WW2 handguns. I’ve done quite a bit of travelling in the UK (been there something like 15 times) and have several friends there and was under the impression that handguns were not legal in the UK or does the fact that they are decommissioned service weapons make a difference? I’m a bit of a gun buff myself (as well as owning several) and was just curious. How many do you own and what kind, and last but not least, are you a good shot? lol
P.S. Saw you in Vegas for the first time in a little over 20 years and enjoyed it immensely. Makes me rather sorry I missed the last 20 years. Guess I’ll have to make up for lost time. You All Looked And Sounded Marvellous.
Cheers!
Hi Melinda. Actually I only have one decommissioned gun and that’s a ww2 British made Bren Machine gun. But as I live on a farming estate I have a shotgun and a 22. rifle for pest control. As you are aware the gun licensing laws in the U.K are very strict and I have been known to hit the occasional barn door.
Regards K.K.
From Laurie:
Hi K.K., Love the new costumes! I know I’m not the only person wondering this…any particular reason why you phased out the boots? They were badass!
Hi Laurie. I guess there comes at time to all of us when we feel a little overdressed. Anyway I had many years enjoying it whilst it lasted. Damn that Spinal Tap movie. Thanks for liking them though!
Regards K.K.
From Paulene:
Hi K.K. Firstly it was great to finally see you guys In Brisbane last year.. I got some great photos of the band. at the concert… My Question is …Yourself, Rob & Scott all have Facebook/Myspace pages… Do You think you could talk Glenn into getting one.?
Hi Paulene. I can mention it to him for you.
Regards K.K.
From Ritchie:
What’s up K.K.! Hope you had a great holiday. It was awesome seeing the Priest in Dallas last year. I don’t know if you remember us or not. We had the meet & greet. I was with my wife Bianca, & my 5 year old son Zack. My wife asked you guys about lyrics to the song “Rocka Rolla.” She thought Rob was saying “tampon igniter” instead of “ten pint a nighter”. You told her she had a great imagination & that tampons were not invented yet. Greatest story ever. Sorry to digress, here is my question. I heard somewhere that Priest would maybe release “Nostradamus” in a blu ray 5.1 surround sound version. Is this true? If so that would be the perfect format for ”Nostradamus.” If or when you guys hit Missouri or close by this year we will be there again, I promise. And I hope there is some truth to the live album from the 2008 shows being released as well. You guys played a terrific set list. Hope to see you all again soon. Lots of METAL!
Hi Richie. We will try our best to release some quality stuff in the future for you. We are coming through the States this summer so hope you and the family can make it. Thanks for the photo, it was a great tour wasn’t it?
Regards K.K.
K.K.
